Cooling tower structure

ABSTRACT

A cooling tower structure including a plurality of precast concrete wall panels positioned above a concrete foundation so as to define cooling cells therebetween and a plurality of precast concrete T-beams longitudinally extending across the upper ends of the transverse wall sections so as to define a distribution basin thereabove and a fill area therebelow. The T-beams have horizontal web sections with apertures formed therein for receipt of spray nozzles therethrough and longitudinally extending rib sections extending downward from the web sections. The spray nozzles and rib sections are arranged in a manner such that the water spray pattern from the nozzles impinge against the side surfaces of the rib sections. The side surfaces of the rib sections include a pair of longitudinally extending surfaces tapered downwardly from the web section towards each other to intersect with a substantially horizontal bottom surface. The intersections between the side surfaces and the bottom surface have rounded corners such that the outwardly spreading spray pattern of water from the nozzle continues below the rib sections to prevent &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;dead spots.

United States Patent [191 Furlong et al.

[ Aug. 20, 1974 COOLING TOWER STRUCTURE [75] Inventors: Donn B. Furlong, San Rafael; James F. Forchini, Healdsburg, both of Calif; Robert Grotheer, Cincinnati, Ohio [73] Assignee: Ecodyne Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Aug. 7, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 278,332

[52] US. Cl. 261/111, 261/DIG. 11 [51] Int. Cl B0lf 3/04 [58] Field of Search 261/111, DIG. 11

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,749,381 7/1973 Furlong et al. 261/111 3,764,121 10/1973 Fordyce 261/111 Primary ExaminerFrank W. Lutter Assistant ExaminerKathleen J. Prunner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joel E. Siegel; Charles M. Kaplan 5 7 ABSTRACT A cooling tower structure including a plurality of precast concrete wall panels positioned above a concrete foundation so as to define cooling cells therebetween and a plurality of precast concrete T-beams longitudinally extending across the upper ends of the transverse wall sections so as to define a distribution basin thereabove and a fill area therebelow. The T-beams have horizontal web sections with apertures formed therein for receipt of spray nozzles therethrough and longitudinally extending rib sections extending downward from the web sections. The spray nozzles and rib sections are arranged in a manner such that the water spray pattern from the nozzles impinge against the side surfaces of the rib sections. The side surfaces of the rib sections include a pair of longitudinally extending surfaces tapered downwardly from the web section towards each other to intersect with a substantially horizontal bottom surface. The intersections between the side surfaces and the bottom surface have rounded corners such that the outwardly spreading spray pattern of water from the nozzle continues below the rib sections to prevent dead spots.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 COOLING TOWER STRUCTURE This invention relates generally to the construction of cooling towers, and more particularly to the construction of a top deck structure for use in conjunction with a concrete cooling tower design which is effective to evenly distribute the water to be cooled over the entire fill area.

The concrete cooling tower design disclosed in US. Pat. Application Ser. No; 232,830, now Pat. No. 3,779,523, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses a cooling tower constructed entirely of concrete, metal and plastic parts which is economically competitive with conventional wooden towers. This is accomplished by fabricating the tower from a minimum number of uniquely designed precast prestressed concrete wall panels, T beams, and louver posts. These structural elements although relatively large in size, may be readily prefabricated and do not require a large amount of field work during the erection thereof because of the inter-relationship between the elements. The wall panels and louver posts are precast to the required length and tilted up into position above the tower foundation. The top deck is formed from T beams positioned above the wall panels and louver posts. A reinforced concrete topping is poured-inplace above the T beams having curb portions integral therewith for defining a hot water distribution basin thereabove. The T beams and topping have spray nozzle openings formed therethrough for receipt of spray nozzles which distribute the water over the fill area. The tower filling is supported from the downwardly extending vertical rib sections of the T beams rendering unnecessary any internal structural support for the tower structure or fill assembly which would retard the movement of air and thereby interfere with thermal performance.

One of the factors in rating the capacity of a cooling tower design to cool water requires the determination of the useable fill strip area to break up falling droplets as they splash on the fill strips. To this end, it is highly desirable to distribute the hot water from the spray nozzles evenly over the entire fill area and avoid the formation of dead spots which do not receive falling droplets. The tower design alluded to above goes a long way to maximize fill area utilization by eliminating internal structural supports which tend to cause dead spots.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a water distribution system for a cooling tower which maximizes the utilization of thefill area.

Another object is to provide a water distribution system for use in combination with a concrete cooling tower having a top deck structure formed from a plurality of T beams, which reduces the dead spots resulting from the water spray contacting the downwardly extending vertical rib sections of the T beams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut-away, of a portion of a concrete tower of the type contemplated for use of the present invention, showing a portion of the hot water distribution basin; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showing the structural relationship between a T beam rib section and a spray nozzle.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of an exemplary concrete cooling tower 10 is shown constructed from wall sections 12, louver posts 13 and double T beams 14. Reference is made to the hereinabove discussed US. Pat. application Ser. No. 232,830 for a detailed disclosure of the specific construction of tower 10. The description which follows concerns itself with an improved water distribution for use in combination with a tower design of the type mentioned hereinabove.

As seen in FIG. 1, the top deck 15 of tower 10 is constructed from a pair of double T beams 14 which longitudinally extend above adjacent transverse wall sections 12. Each T beam 14 is integrally cast to include a horizontal web section 16 and a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending vertical rib sections 17 extending downwardly therefrom. A reinforced concrete topping 18 is poured-in-place above T beams 14 having curb portions defining a hot water distribution basin 22 thereabove. Passing through topping 18 and T beams 14 are a plurality of apertures 19 for receipt of spray nozzles 20 therethrough. Spray nozzles 20 are spaced in pairs of longitudinally extending rows, one on each side of each rib section 17. Reference is made to US. Pat. applications Ser. Nos. 403,708 and 232,830, both assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, for a disclosure of a method and apparatus for forming T beams 14 with the apertures formed therein in vertical alignment with the apertures in topping 18.

Water from distribution basin 22 passes through nozzles 20 and is sprayed into the fill area positioned immediately therebelow. As seen in FIG. 2, the water fromnozzles 20 contacts the side surface 25 of the rib section 17 which is closest thereto and thus disturbs the outwardly spreading spray pattern tending to cause dead spots therebelow. The heart of the present invention is the structural relationship between nozzles 20 and rib sections 17 which is effective to continue the outwardly spreading spray pattern of the water below the rib sections 17 and thereby prevent the dead spots.

As seen in FIG. 2, each rib section 17 includes a pair of side surfaces 25 and a bottom surface 27. Side surfaces 25 extend below the level of nozzles 20 and thus receive the impingement of water spray thereagainst. In accordance with the present invention side surfaces 25 are tapered downwardly towards each other, each surface having an angle of inclination of approximately 4. The edges 29, formed at the intersection between side surfaces 25 and bottom surface 27, are rounded with a radius of curvation preferably in the range of /a to l /2 inches.

In operation, the water spray pattern from nozzles 20 impinges against side surfaces 25 of rib l7 and runs down the surface thereof while retaining both vertical and horizontal velocity components. When the water reaches rounded edge 29 it fans out around edge 29 and continues once again to fall in outwardly spreading spray patterns, as depicted by dotted lines in FIG. 2. This unique structural relationshipbetween ribs 17 and nozzle 20 is effective to distribute the water spray to the area immediately below ribs 17 and prevent the formation of the aforementioned dead spots. By increasing the useable area of the fill area the capacity of the tower to cool water is likewise increased.

Various modifications are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter defined by the appended claims, as only a preferred embodiment thereof has been disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cooling tower structure including a plurality of precast concrete wall panels positioned above a concrete foundation so as to form a plurality of transverse wall sections defining cooling cells therebetween and a plurality of precast concrete T beams longitudinally extending across the upper ends of said transverse wall sections and including means defining a distribution basin thereabove and 21 till area therebelow, said T beams having horizontal web sections with apertures formed therein for receipt of spray nozzles therethrough and longitudinally extending rib sections extending downward from said web sections, said rib sections having a pair of longitudinally extending side surfaces tapered downwardly from said web section towards each other to intersect with a substantially horizontal bottom surface, said intersection between said side surfaces and said bottom surface having comers rounded in such a manner and located with respect to said nozzles such that the water from said spray nozzles which contacts said rib sections is induced to travel down said side surfaces with both a horizontal and vertical velocity component and then fan out around said rounded corners and thereby cover the area directly below the rib sections.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rib sections extend below said spray nozzles.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said spray nozzles are arranged in a plurality of longitudinally extending rows.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said spray nozzles distribute the water passing therethrough in a series of outwardly spreading spray patterns and said rib sections being effective to continue said outwardly spreading spray patterns therebelow.

S. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said T beams include a poured-in-place concrete topping thereabove and said spray nozzles extend through said topping so as to receive water stored thereabove.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said side surfaces have an angle of inclination of approximately 4 and said rounded corners have a radius of curvature in the range of /2 to l /2 inches. 

1. In a cooling tower structure including a plurality of precast concrete wall panels positioned above a concrete foundation so as to form a plurality of transverse wall sections defining cooling cells therebetween and a plurality of precast concrete T beams longitudinally extending across the upper ends of said transverse wall sections and including means defining a distribution basin thereabove and a fill area therebelow, said T beams having horizontal web sections with apertures formed therein for receipt of spray nozzles therethrough and longitudinally extending rib sections extending downward from said web sections, said rib sections having a pair of longitudinally extending side surfaces tapered downwardly from said web section towards each other to intersect with a substantially horizontal bottom surface, said intersection between said side surfaces and said bottom surface having corners rounded in such a manner and located with respect to said nozzles such that the water from said spray nozzles which contacts said rib sections is induced to travel down said side surfaces with both a horizontal and vertical velocity component and then fan out around said rounded corners and thereby cover the area directly below the rib sections.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rib sections extend below said spray nozzles.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said spray nozzles are arranged in a plurality of longitudinally extending rows.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said spray nozzles distribute the water passing therethrough in a series of outwardly spreading spray patterns and said rib sections being effective to continue said outwardly spreading spray patterns therebelow.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said T beams include a poured-in-place concrete topping thereabove and said spray nozzles extend through said topping so as to receive water stored thereabove.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said side surfaces have an angle of inclination of approximately 4* and said rounded corners have a radius of curvature in the range of 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches. 